Baby bootee stretcher



Spt. 4, 1951 A. B. RESER BABY Boom: sTRETcHER Filed Aug. 18, 1950 7 Z. .W w m m. fl y/ 5 Patented Sept. 4, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a stretcher for soft woolen articles, such as baby bootees, and preferably those which are knitted.

An object of `my invention is to provide a novel, simple and inexpensive bootee stretcher, which can be easily adjusted to different lengths, as required, to stretch bootees to the desired size.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel bootee stretcher of the charatcer stated, in which the heel section of the stretcher is adjustably mounted on pins or ribs, thereby moving the heel section relative to the toe section of the stretcher, to achieve an increase in length of the stretcher.

A feature of my invention is to provide a novel bootee stretcherof the Character stated, which can be easily formed out of inexpensive material, such as plastic, and the like.

Other objects, fadvantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevation of my bootee stretcher.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the heel portion of my stretcher.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the heel section of my stretcher.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the stretcher, in assembled position.

Flgure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a pei'spective view of the toe portion of my stretcher.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, my bootee stretcher I is preferably cast from light and inexpensive material, such as certain of the plastics. The stretcher includes a hollow toe section 2, which conforms generally in sha'pe to the toe portion of an infant's bootee. The toe portion 2 also includes a bottom wall which protrudes rearwardly, as shown at 3.

A plurality of ribs or pins 4 project upwardly from the wall 3 and these ribs are preferably inclined rearwardly, as shown, so that the adjustable heel 'portion of the stretcher will be held in position more effectively, and will not tend to tilt under pressure. The rear edge 5 of the toe portion is also inclined at substantially the same angle as the ribs l. The 'heel portion 6 of the stretcher is also preferably hollow for the purpose of making the stretcher as light as possible. A rectangular recess 'l is formed in the bottom of the heel portion 6 so that the bottom wall 3 of the toe portion can fit therein 'and also to act as an efiective guide for the heel portion 6, as this heel portion is moved relative to the toe for the purpose of adjusting the overall length of the stretcher.

A plurality of spaced slots 8 are provided in the bottom wall of the heel 'portion 6 and the ribs 4 fit into these slots, substantially as shown, The spaced ribs 4 and the spaced slots 8 permit the heel portion 6 to be -adjusted relative to the toe portion to three or more positions, as desired.

The front edge 9 of the heel portion is also inclined to fit the inclined wall or edge 5.

In use, the toe portion 2 of the stretcher is inserted in the bootee, 'preferably while the bootee is wet after having been washed, and thereafter the heel 6 is adjusted to the desired length and the bootee is permitted to dry on the stretcher, thus stretching the bootee to the desired or required length.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A baby bootee stretcher comprising a toe section shaped to fit the toe of a bootee, a 'heel section shaped to fit the heel of a bootee, a bottom wall projecting from the toe section, a plurality of ribs projecting upwardly from said wall, said heel section having spaced holes in the bottom thereof to receive said ribs and adjustably secure the heel section to said toe section, said ribs and said holes being inclined from the vertical.

2. A baby bootee stretcher 'comprising a hollow toe section, a bottom wall on said toe section, said wall projecting from the rear of the toe section, a hollow heel section, a plurality of spaced ribs projecting upwardly from said bottom wall and adjacent the rear thereof, said heel section having spaced slots in the bottom thereof to receive said ribs, said heel section having a recess in the bottom thereof to receive said bottom wall and said ribs, and said slots being inclined from the Vertical.

ALVA B. RESER.

REFERENCES CITED FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany June 20, 1911 Number 

